Petkovic named new Lazio coach
Reuters - Saturday 02 June 2012, 10:36
Former Sion coach Vladimir Petkovic was
named Lazio boss on Saturday after Edy Reja opted to step down
despite another successful Serie A season.
Bosnian Petkovic, who spent a short spell at Switzerland's
troubled Sion this year, is a surprise choice given he has never
been involved in Italian football having spent most of his time
managing an array of Swiss teams.
A short statement on Lazio's website confirmed his
appointment but there were no details on the length of contract.
Rome's Lazio were almost relegated three seasons ago when
Reja took over but he led the club into Europe the next term and
in the season just finished they narrowly missed the Champions
League spots by finishing fourth.
However, Reja had a rocky relationship with hard-nosed
president Claudio Lotito and previously offered to resign before
finally walking away last month.
Lazio captain Stefano Mauri was arrested last month on
suspicion of match-fixing but the club have not been charged
with any offence by the Italian football federation.
The usual pre-season managerial merry-go-round in Italy is
already in full swing with Pescara boss Zdenek Zeman set to take
over at Lazio's city rivals AS Roma, the club he managed in the
1990s after a stint at Lazio.
Siena's Giuseppe Sannino is set to become Palermo boss and
Catania's Vincenzo Montella has been linked in the media with
Fiorentina.
Inter Milan and Genoa have meanwhile confirmed interim
coaches Andrea Stramaccioni and Luigi De Canio for next term.